Babolat pays tribute to Rafael Nadal with retirement video, specially-designed racquet bag

There has perhaps never been a player-racquet marriage as successful as Rafael Nadal and his trusty Babolat Pure Aero. The flashy frame was in his hands for all 22 of his Grand Slam singles titles. Built to produce power and massive spin, the racquet perfectly complemented Nadal’s relentless baseline aggression. So much so that if an Aero user is asked which frame they play with, they often simply reply: Rafa’s racquet.

The Aero franchise was essentially created with Nadal’s game in mind. Always a Babolat user, Nadal played with four different generations of the Pure Drive during his junior career. Babolat wanted to create a frame that better accentuated Nadal’s spin potential.

The first Pure Aero—originally called the Aeropro Drive—was released in 2002. The racquet was flattened out to take advantage of the more vertical swing path employed by players like Nadal, except it was too thin and lacked punch. The second generation improved the formula by combining the hoop of the Pure Drive with the Aero shaft to create the frame’s signature recipe of power and spin.

Nadal switched to the Aero in 2004 and never looked back. Paired with Babolat’s RPM Blast strings, the racquet’s innovative design meshed with Nadal’s signature lasso forehand to create an incredibly heavy ball that overwhelmed his opponents. It worked to great effect on any surface, but to historic levels on clay. Each of the subsequent generations of the racquet—there are eight in total—was used by Nadal to win multiple Grand Slam titles.

For the most recent installment, Babolat released a special capsule called the Pure Aero Rafa collection. One of the frames—the Origin—has specs and technologies that most closely resemble Nadal’s own personal frame. The racquet is stiffer and heavier than the standard Pure Aero, with a mammoth 370ish swingweight. It’s a beast to play with and unlike virtually anything used by current pros.

Even with Nadal retiring, the Aero franchise remains in good hands. Numerous top players, including Carlos Alcaraz, are using the Pure Aero 98, a newer model in the family. Perhaps it’s better that way. Let the next generation of champions make their reputation with their own equipment. Rafa’s Aero is spoken for.

As for Babolat, while Nadal’s playing career is ending, their journey will continue.

“Rafa has been part of the Babolat family since he was 9 years old. Our relationship with him is more than just a partnership—it’s a story of trust and shared success,” says the brand’s CEO, Eric Babolat.

“We have always been there to support him on and off the court, and we will continue to stand by his side in whatever adventures lie ahead.”